Holy Reverence

Published July 27, 2026

Monday, July 27, 2026 | Betty Bachtel

Isaiah 61-66

The final chapter of Isaiah is a fitting climax to the book. We see that God will lift up the humble, judge all people, destroy the wicked, bring all believers together, and establish the new heavens and the new earth. What hope we should have in these words.

At the beginning of the chapter the Lord says Heaven is His throne and the world we reside in is merely His footstool. I sense God asking, what kind of house can I build for Him? I am not a carpenter so I cannot wow Him by building a physical house. In fact, without God, I have no talent to offer Him. However, as a Christian I am responsible for building God's kingdom. How? By sharing Him with others.

God desires to be wowed by us in other ways as well. In 66:2b, scripture says "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." God desires a right relationship with us. He values our hearts more than any other gift or sacrifice we bring. It pleases him when we are humble - when we think of others more than ourselves, and when we worship Him with thankfulness. A humble person is also convicted of the inability to live up to God's holy standards; they are also repentant of the wrongs they commit against the Lord. "God shows mercy to the humble, but he curses the proud and self-sufficient (Luke 1:51-53)". Also, "contrite" is found one other time in scripture: 2 Samuel. It refers to Jonathan's son whose feet were lame. Here, scripture is talking about being lame in spirit. One who is lame in spirit is one who trembles at God's word

When was the last time you trembled at something? We usually connect dread or terror at the word tremble. In verse 2, tremble signifies a deep, reverent awe toward God.

Those who tremble at God's word have a genuine desire to please Him.

They hunger to know all there is to know about Him and to study His word. God's word should be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. For those who do not tremble at His word, Isaiah says the Lord will repay his enemies all they deserve. Do you tremble in God's word? If not, why not? "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe (1 Thess. 2:13)"

By His grace, God loves to give us a heart that trembles at His word. He did it when He saved me, and therefore, I am called to work out my salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in me to will and to act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13)

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